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The Structure of a Dissertation
Preliminary Pages
· Includes the Title page, Acknowledgement page, Table of Contents, List of Tables and Figures, Abstract.
Chapter 1: Overview of the Study
o Briefly introduce the area of study.
· Background of the Problem
o Provide an overview of the broad problems in education which lead up to this particular dissertation, and provide an argument for doing this particular study.
· Statement of the Problem
o The purpose of the statement of the problem is to focus on what is not known or what is problematic.
· Purpose of the Study
o Describes what the study will do, should mirror the statement of the problem.
o Research questions and hypotheses.
o Introduce Theory.
· Importance of the Study
o Describe what contribution your study will make to the broad literature or set of broad educations’ problems when it is finished.
· Limitations and Delimitations (can also be included in Ch. 3)
o Limitations refer to limitations on the study, which are beyond the control of the researcher and generally address issues of internal validity.
o Delimitations refer to the generalizability of the study and issues of external validity.
· Definition of Terms
o Provide operational definitions of the key terms in alphabetical order. Source definitions.
· Organization of the Study
Chapter 2: Literature Review
o Briefly introduce the major topics you will review in the chapter.
· Body: Synthesis of the Literature
o Organize the body according to topic.
o Critically evaluate the literature instead of summarizing.
o Highlight important unanswered questions.
o Identify methodological problems with past studies, and areas of controversy in the literature.
o Discuss the significance of past research and how it relates to your own study.
· Presentation of Theories
· Summary
o Review the main points in the chapter.
o Reiterate the general controversies, questions, or problems in the research that support the need for your study.
Chapter 3: Methodology
o Restate Purpose of the Study.
o Restate the research questions (and hypotheses, if applicable).
o Discuss Method of Study Quantitative vs. Qualitative.
· Sample and Population
o Include type of sampling used, criteria for selection, process of selection, the sample selected, sampling issues, and the population from which the population was drawn.
· Instrumentation
o Describe the instrumentation and conceptual or theoretical framework for the instrument content used in the study.
o Include a brief description of the relationship of the research questions to your instrumentation.
o Include the process of development (if applicable) and reliability and validity of the instruments used, as well as field testing (if applicable).
· Data Collection
o Include description of the procedures and methods used to collect data (e.g. how the instruments were administered).
· Data Analysis
o Organize by research question and describe the statistical techniques or programs used to analyze the data.
o Describe any problems with the data analysis.
Chapter 4: Results
o Restate Focus of Study.
· Reporting of Results
o Organize by research question.
· Summary
o Include reflection on results and provide your original insights about what the results mean. Articulate how the results support your findings.
Ch. 5 Discussion of Findings
o Briefly summarize the background and purpose of the study and research questions
· Discussion of Findings.
Limitations (Discuss limitations not previously discussed.)
· Implications for Practice
o Address how your study informs the practice of professionals in certain fields.
· Future Research
o Discuss future research that is needed as a result of the findings in your study.
· Conclusions
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